WXIX-TV anchorman arrested, out on bail

        A Cincinnati television news anchorman was arrested Friday night on a charge of passing bad checks.

        WXIX-TV (Channel 19) morning news anchor Rob Williams, 32, of Mount Adams was taken late Friday to the Hamilton County Justice Center on an outstanding felony warrant.

        Mr. Williams posted 10 percent of his $1,000 bond and was released hours later.

Hit-and-run sends man to hospital

        Jeffrey McGivens, 47, of the 3500 block of Idlewild Avenue in Evanston was in fair condition Saturday at University Hospital afterbeing hit by a vehicle in Over-the-Rhine.

        Cincinnati Police said a car filled with at least four teens struck Mr. McGivens about 3:30 a.m. at Elm and Findlay streets. Witnesses said the vehicle then continued on Elm.

Man disappears; family concerned

        Cincinnati police are looking for a Milford man who has not been heard from since Tuesday.

        Micah D. Kidd, 35, called about 10 p.m. from Clifton to tell family members he was on his way home.

        Police describe Mr. Kidd as white, 5 feet 6 inches tall, 170 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair. He was driving a silver, four-door 1992 Ford Crown Victoria. The car's Ohio license plate is BD60LQ.

        Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 352-3040.

Layoffs loom for some county workers

        COLUMBUS — County agencies that had absorbed state budget cuts by trimming services and spending reserves now say they can no longer avoid layoffs.

        The Pickaway County office of the state Department of Job and Family Services laid off 11 workers, a tenth of its staff.

        “All counties are going through the bloodletting,” said Judith Chavis, assistant director of the nonprofit Ohio Job and Family Services Directors' Association.

        The first indication that layoffs were likely was in mid-2001, when the legislature redirected federal money previously sent to the county agencies. State officials redirected the money to Head Start, food banks, job training and other programs. That freed funds for the court-ordered overhaul of public school funding.

        “The net result is we lost nearly $300 million,” said Jack Frech, executive director of the Athens County Job and Family Services office. “Poor people shouldn't be paying because we don't have enough money to pay for education.” The Athens office lost $9 million and laid off 24 people last year, Mr. Frech said.

        County directors should not have been caught off guard, said Jon Allen, spokesman for the state agency. They knew the federal money was temporary and contingent on performance.

Minister sentenced for sex with minor

        CANTON - A minister who worked at several Protestant churches here has been sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to having sex with a 14-year-old girl from one of his congregations.

        The Rev. Larry G. Hamilton Sr., 46, who most recently worked at New Bethel Ministries of Canton, pleaded guilty on Friday in Stark County Common Pleas Court to a single felony charge of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.

        The plea agreement spared the victim from having to testify at a trial, said Katie Chawla, assistant Stark County prosecutor.

        The Rev. Mr. Hamilton was charged after police had the girl call him and secretly record a discussion about their relationship.

— Compiled from staff and wire reports
       

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